# Fewer teen drivers threaten voter registration push **Published:** 2026-06-22T07:00:35.000Z **Source:** [Nebraska Examiner](https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2026/06/22/repub/when-teens-drive-less-they-dont-register-to-vote-heres-how-civic-groups-are-adapting/) **AI-generated:** yes (claude-haiku-4-5-20251001) **Canonical:** https://lincolne.news/article/fewer-teen-drivers-threaten-voter-registration-push A long-standing pathway to voter registration for American teenagers is rapidly closing, prompting civic groups nationwide to develop new strategies to engage young voters ahead of the 2026 and 2028 elections. According to [a Nebraska Examiner report](https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2026/06/22/repub/when-teens-drive-less-they-dont-register-to-vote-heres-how-civic-groups-are-adapting/), declining rates of teen driving licenses have reduced crucial registration opportunities at motor vehicle offices. Since the National Voter Registration Act passed in 1993, nearly all states have been required to offer voter registration at Department of Motor Vehicles offices. But fewer teenagers are obtaining driver's licenses today compared to previous decades. In 1994, about 74% of 18-year-olds held licenses; today that figure has dropped to about 60%, according to the Federal Highway Administration. Rising costs of obtaining a license have contributed to the decline. More than 7.5 million people ages 16 to 18 lack a driver's license, according to research from [The Civics Center](https://www.thecivicscenter.org/), a nonpartisan group focused on boosting youth voter registration. Three million of those young people will be eligible to vote this year. The organization warns that without action, declining DMV visits could depress registration rates even further. Registration rates among 18-year-olds are already low. During midterm election years, roughly 30% of young adults are registered to vote, compared to about 75% of Americans 45 and older. Civic groups say the pattern threatens the political engagement of millions. To compensate for fewer DMV visits, organizations are expanding high school voter registration drives. The [League of Women Voters](https://www.lwv.org/) and The Civics Center announced an April partnership to provide training and toolkits to help members hold registration events. Groups also advocate for states to allow pre-registration starting at age 16 or 17, which would extend the window for young people to register before their first election. About half of U.S. states already allow pre-registration at 16, including California, Colorado, Delaware, Florida, Illinois, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, Rhode Island, Utah, Virginia and Washington. "Paper forms, typically you only need a Social Security number and not a driver's license," said Laura Brill, founder and CEO of The Civics Center. "That's one of the reasons that in-person efforts can be so effective." Registration drives could face federal challenges. [The SAVE America Act](https://www.whitehouse.gov/saveamerica/), President Donald Trump's signature election legislation, would effectively prohibit third-party voter registration drives by requiring individuals to present citizenship documents like passports or birth certificates directly to government officials. The bill has stalled in the U.S. Senate amid opposition from Democrats and some Republicans. Trump continues urging lawmakers to pass the measure. New Hampshire offers a potential model for success. Because it is exempt from the federal voter registration act, the state requires all residents to register in person with election officials but also allows registration on Election Day. The voting rights group [Open Democracy](https://opendemocracy.org/) held 41 high school voter registration drives in 2024. That effort contributed to a dramatic increase: just 9% of New Hampshire 18-year-olds were registered in December 2023, but nearly 64% were registered after the November 2024 election. Yet barriers persist. When New Hampshire temporarily removed the ability to sign affidavits as proof of citizenship in 2025, registrations plummeted even as Open Democracy maintained its registration efforts. A federal judge blocked that law in May, restoring the affidavit option, demonstrating how state policy changes can dramatically affect youth engagement. Civic leaders emphasize that early registration creates lasting voting habits; each time someone votes, they are more likely to vote again. ## Sources - [Nebraska Examiner](https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2026/06/22/repub/when-teens-drive-less-they-dont-register-to-vote-heres-how-civic-groups-are-adapting/) - [The Civics Center research on youth voter registration](https://www.thecivicscenter.org/) - [League of Women Voters national organization](https://www.lwv.org/) - [White House SAVE America Act information](https://www.whitehouse.gov/saveamerica/) - [Open Democracy voting rights group in New Hampshire](https://opendemocracy.org/) --- This article was generated by AI (claude-haiku-4-5-20251001) based on source material from Nebraska Examiner, enriched with 3 web searches. The original source is available at https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2026/06/22/repub/when-teens-drive-less-they-dont-register-to-vote-heres-how-civic-groups-are-adapting/.